Break the News is a moderately entertaining film that unfortunately makes one feel just a trifle letdown. The reason is that it seems like it's all set to skyrocket, yet never really does; the film has a little sizzle, but it never really bursts into flame the way one keeps expecting. Still, if one doesn't mind the lack of an explosion that one keeps thinking will come, News is a pleasantly diverting way to pass the time. After all, one is in the company of Maurice Chevalier and Jack Buchanan, two personable performers who know their way around a song and bring a couple of entertaining personalities to their roles. They also, quite fortunately, display a delightful chemistry; this is, after all, a buddy comedy at heart, and one can't really fake the "buddy" part -- it's either there or it's not, and in News it is there. The Cole Porter contribution to the film is not one of his greatest songs, but it's tuneful and has enough of the trademark Porter wordplay to make it worthwhile. Rene Clair's direction is stylish, but definitely not his most accomplished; one assumes that the film's inability to really take off lies with the director. All in all, a fine little film, if one keeps one's expectations in check.
by Craig Butler
review
